Friday, August 31, 2012

Thought I would post some lovely, relaxing images of this amazing summer house I was lucky enough to visit during my stay in Sweden a few weeks back. Frankly, I have so many beautiful pictures of this land I don't know where to start so I am toying with the idea of posting a couple over the weekend and through the holiday (it is a holiday on Monday in the US, right?)
My friend Harald, who invited me here, referred to it as being a "bit like eating Sweden in concentrated form." If this is the case, I'm sold. The family who has had this place for generations is just beginning to produce little pieces for everyone in the form of honey and possibly (hopefully!) apple candy from the many orchards there. If you find some honey that is called Öster Skägga Gård, snatch it up and have a spoonful of Sweden for yourself.
I'll share the images of the House another time, but just some of the land and swimming house, sauna etc. for now.
Have a beautiful weekend friends. I am heading to Helsinki on Sunday and Copenhagen Wednesday, but I'll do my best to keep posting!

Thursday, August 30, 2012

I finally had time to pick out a few of my favorite shots from the Prague National Theatre. The interiors of this place are just fantastic. All this green marble was apparently a gift from Cuba. Wish I knew the architect. I'll ask Adam Stech of Okolo and post it when I know. He knows everything Czech architecture (no joke).

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

P-Pow! That is what went through my mind when I walked into this room in Czech architect, Ivan Ruller's apartment in Brno. That color is so damn good, right? And the mix here is good too. There is a different sense of color and design in eastern europe that I really admire. There is no wrong. It all works in a wild abandon kind of way. It makes me smile.
I got a major crush on his wood inlay table tops, a collaboration he did with another artist, and the art including this odd little sculpture on the table. Funny little guy, isn't he?

Monday, August 27, 2012

Meet Fritz. I spent my day with him yesterday shooting an amazing house for the book. I'm heading back there right now to shoot more, so just a quickie pic today. More in a few days on this house. I am in love with it!

Friday, August 24, 2012

Chalk it up to good old fashioned fatigue, but between shooting in Prague and Brno and simultaneoulsy editing (and editing, and editing...) my NYT People Watching post (heads up, it will post on Monday!), I just don't have a lot to say today. I am knackered!
So I am going to keep it simple with just a few shots from my visit to the artist, Věra Janoušková's atelier in Prague. A really amazing space.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

A few random favorite images I shot while in Stockholm. This first one is my absolute favorite. There is something so good about the colors in this one. I think there is a little theme within these three, however accidental.
Heading to Brno, Czech Republic today! Going to see some mid century architects...

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

My favorite shot from yesterday's impromptu shoot at Maxim Velcovsky's studio in Prague. I have become a bit obsessed with these shots of reflections lately. I did an embarrassing amount at Bruno Mathsson's house last week as well, but that house is ALL windows on two sides, so I guess it might make sense there. Here is was a reflection in a wonderful glass fronted case that was used to sell thermometers.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Just arrived in Prague yesterday and was quickly whisked away to a tour of the national theater. My favorite quick iphone shot here. Rather out of character with the rest of the interiors which are modern and amazing! Masses of green marble from Cuba! My guide in Prague is Adam Stech from Okolo. Check out their site if you aren't familiar. Nice stuff...
I'll post a couple more of the theater soon. A bit backlogged with the Sweden stuff. Still a few more from that.

It has been a quandry for me - what to show from the new book and how much? There is something to be said for keeping things under wraps until all is done, but I get so excited about stuff while I am shooting it and want to share it with all of you! It is one of the best things about getting to do what I do. I've decided if I shot it on my iphone, it can go on the blog here as a sneak peek...I hope this works. So today, one of my favorite images from Bruno Mathsson's house. I cannot imagine some version of this not making it in the book. I swear I can sense Bruno sitting in that chair looking out the window at his sublime view. The silence at his house is really profound. All you hear is the wind in the trees.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Leave it to me to get enthralled with the outside of Bruno Mathsson's house. As many of you know who follow me on Twitter -@lwillphoto if you want to follow as well - I shot his house last week for my new book. I was all finished shooting inside and a bit enthralled with his roof so I decided to go traipse around outside and take a look - try to shoot his roof from the outside just for myself. I was literally in the bushes, as you can see! I love the humbleness of these shots, though, don't you? His house is rather simple, yet brilliant. I have always loved Mathsson's furniture, but his architecture, especially this house, has been a bit of a revelation for me. I posted a couple of images of his brilliant roof on Twitter. It is luminescent! So take a look.
I am on a plane to Prague today, so I'll be back asap. Fingers crossed I won't miss a day. I hate missing a day... ; )

Friday, August 17, 2012

Ok, there are two favorites, both from my visit to an amazing glass artist out in Gustavsberg, Sweden. I cannot wait to talk more about her because I am in love with her work. But People Watching has first dibs on that, so it will have to wait. But I can share a couple of iphone shots.
Tomorrow I go out to the Swedish countryside to see a girl about an ax!!!

Thursday, August 16, 2012

A quick shot I took yesterday of the Bruno Mathsson office in Varnamo, Sweden. I was shooting his house there for the new book and at lunch I made a quickie trip to the Mathsson Design Office. The company is still run by the sons of Mathsson's original business partner - another family run, multi generational business! Much like Mathsson, who was the 6th generation in a family of cabinet mankers. You cannot tell here, but the IBM typewriter matched the color of the chair exactly! So good!

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

This is what brought me to Foundation Maeght. In a word, Giacometti. They have an amazing collection. In fact, in the central courtyard, there are usually all Giacometti's, or at least I think there used to be. There was only this one when I visited, but she made me cry with joy.
There were a few other pieces of sculpture as well (dazzling understatement, btw. Super incredible collection!), but I was in such a daze I didn't pay attention to who they were by.

PS - I have been informed by my loyal readership that the last three images are all Miro sculptures. Thank you everyone, you are the best! I swear I will pay more attention next time. But that Giacometti had me a stirred up!

Monday, August 13, 2012

Hello lovely people!
Just a quick note from the Swedish countryside. I am on the road again shooting the European version of Handcrafted Modern. For a solid two months this time. I know some of you like your updates when they happen, in real time, so if that is the case, you should follow me on Twitter. You can find me @lwillphoto
I post images from the train and when I lose my mind at a house I am shooting for the European book. You never know. But since I am never that good at sharing across all these digital platforms ( I am trying to be better, I swear), I thought I would do it now. While I am thinking about it.
Kisses from Varnamo, Sweden. The land of Bruno Mathsson! See you on Twitter or here on the blog! ; )

Heyhey everyone! I am actually in the Swedish countryside at the moment, but I have so much more to share from Foundation Maeght in St-Paul-De-Vence. Today a few of the architecture. It is hard to describe this place so I am just going to let the images do the talking. Plus I have a bit of prep for tomorrows shoot. The buildings are by Josep Lluis Sert. This is a place you have to experience first hand if you can. I arrived late in the afternoon, so the sun was dipping just right as the heat subsided a bit and the cicadas buzzed - very visceral.

I love the way the roofline echoes the top of the bookshelves in this one.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

I finally made the pilgrimage to Foundation Maeght in St- Paul-de-Vence on Thursday. I say pilgrimage because if you are a Giacometti lover, you will know that they have such an amazing collection. I shot like a crazy woman to be honest. But since tonight I am on a deadline and heading to Stockholm super early in the morning, I will share my 3 favorites of the chapel and my new love, Raoul Ubac. I had never heard of him, but in the chapel are his 12 "Stations of the Cross". You see some in the first image and the last. They are just sublime! The actually remind me in some way of Alexandre Noll for some reason. Maybe it is all those crosses Noll did in ebony. But anyhow I am just in love with Ubac's work! cannot wait to have time to do a little digging on him. Of course the Josep Lluis Sert buildings were another draw beyond the Giacometti.
I am leaving out a lot here. I will share more once I turn in the next NYT People Watching. Just polishing it up!

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

OK...I cannot say much about this picture except that I am totally in love with it! I have been editing and writing my next NYT People Watching post and frankly it is frustrating. Can I do it in two parts? There are SO MANY images! I know...a good problem to have, but still. This is one of my favorites and there is no way it is going to make the cut. But isn't it a beauty? I used to play with one of those zylophone things when I was little...I can still hear the sound it makes in my head. A new People Watching so so soon!

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

A couple more images from my weekend in Paris. The first is a quick shot at the wonderful store Merci and the second was just in the food stalls across the street from my hotel. Seeing the Kodak sign gave me a pang of sadness knowing this book won't be on film. Just too expensive and complicated with the travel this book involves.
I am currently somewhere between Paris and Le Corbusier's Cabanon in the S. of France in a roadside motel. So fantastic to be on a mini road trip! I loooooove road trips!

Monday, August 6, 2012

Arrived in Paris on Friday afternoon to the quiet of early August. I realized that the city would just be shutting down for the August holiday when I got here but it was actually perfect. A couple of shots from my mellow weekend. Lunches and dinners with friends in the Marais and just a bit dejetlagging. I unexpectedly bumped into someone I knew on the street on Saturday which is always a lovely way to start a trip. It is nice to feel like you friends everywhere, n'est pas?
Today I begin the journey out to the South of France with my friend Monika. We are making it a mini road trip with our final destination being shoot one - Le Corbusier's Cabanon!!! To say I am excited is just seems like the silliest understatement on the planet...more soon...

Friday, August 3, 2012

I met a dear friend at Trouble Coffee in San Francisco the other day and this sat before my eyes. Yep. That is what this whole adventure is going to be. I am not really one to use the word "epic" but this book and trip is probably the biggest thing I have ever done in my life. The word fits I daresay.
By the time you read this I will be on a plane to Paris. And then the adventure begins! I continue shooting the European book. Eleven countries in about 9 weeks.
For those of you that have asked, this book is a continuation of the project that turned into Handcrafted Modern. Mid twentieth century architects and designers homes and studios. My dream list and quite a few new ones. I will be tweeting ( @lwillphoto ) and keeping up with the blog as best I can from the road. A Kickstarter campaign will be up soon as well so get ready to pre-buy your book and support my project while I am on the road. Here we go!

Thursday, August 2, 2012

So I first heard that Casa Brutus was going to have Handcrafted Modern in their books issue. Fantastic, I thought! I love Casa Brutus! Then they asked for access to images. Nice, I thought, guess it will be more than just a little 2x2 pic of the HC Mod cover image. Then there was a mention of the cover of the magazine. I actually think the first thought I had was, "huh? really?" I couldn't imagine. I've never seen a book get a cover of a magazine before. Then I got the issue. HOLY MACKEREL! I don't even know what to think! A fold out cover and a 6 page story? Really? So amazing! Thank you Casa Brutus! Thank you Ryan Conder of South Willard in LA (I really have to email that guy...). I have no idea what it says but I am putting this on the list of things I never even knew I should hope for. Beautiful and amazing! A great way to head off to Europe to shoot the next book. I am a grateful girl.
PS - If someone reads Japanese, let me know what this says, will ya?
PPS - User name "Serendipity" was kind enough to post a translation in the comments section of this post which, in my jetlagged stupor, I accidentally deleted. UGH! Thank you Serendipity for your efforts! You are so kind. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to read the translation. So if someone wants to try again I would be ever so grateful! Kisses from Paris! L-